‘Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Labor To Convene a Task Force To Evaluate and Recommend Revisions to the Definition of Service Dog’

‘Sec. 1. Task force to evaluate and revise the statutory definition of service dog; membership. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Labor shall convene a task force to evaluate and recommend changes to the statutory definition of service dog in the Maine Revised Statutes. The task force must be staffed and coordinated by the Department of Labor and must include the following stakeholders: the director of the animal welfare program within the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources; a representative from the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation; representatives from both nonprofit and for-profit service dog training schools; a representative from Pine Tree Guide Dog Users, or its successor; a representative from the Maine Town and City Clerks' Association, or its successor; a representative from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, or its successor; a representative from the Disability Rights Center, or its successor; a representative from the Maine Center on Deafness, or its successor; a representative from the Assistance Canine Educations and Support, Inc., or its successor; and a representative of the medical community; and be it further

Sec. 2. Task force duties. Resolved: That the task force shall review the following issues within the parameters of applicable federal and state laws: proposed changes to the statutory definition of service dog; criteria or documentation that town clerks must use to verify a dog as a service animal to qualify for the license fee exemption; proposed revisions to the Maine Revised Statutes to clarify the rights of and protections for people with disabilities who use service animals; proposed revisions necessary to the Maine Revised Statutes to provide clarification to business owners of their rights and responsibilities concerning service animals; and proposals for any specific criteria that may be required for consideration by medical practitioners when prescribing the use of a service animal; and be it further

Sec. 3. Reporting date established. Resolved: That no later than January 15, 2008 the Commissioner of Labor shall submit a report with findings and recommendations following the review under section 2 including any recommended legislative changes to the Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development. The Joint Standing Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development is authorized to submit legislation on the subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature.’